Sorry, I should have mentioned that almost all incarceration these days for drugs is drug dealing. Drug possession is mainly a form of government rent-seeking. Hundred of thousands of cases of marijuana possession a year, but only about 600 cases per year of actual prison sentences for marijuana possession as the only charge. Plus, at the state level, drug offences account of about 14 or 15% of the prison population. 50% is violent crime, 20% property crime. Crucially, drug dealing feeds into violent crime, which is one of the reasons why drug dealing was treated so punitively in the past.
Sorry, I should have mentioned that almost all incarceration these days for drugs is drug dealing. Drug possession is mainly a form of government rent-seeking. Hundred of thousands of cases of marijuana possession a year, but only about 600 cases per year of actual prison sentences for marijuana possession as the only charge. Plus, at the state level, drug offences account of about 14 or 15% of the prison population. 50% is violent crime, 20% property crime. Crucially, drug dealing feeds into violent crime, which is one of the reasons why drug dealing was treated so punitively in the past.